New pro-Kremlin rightwing liberal party formed in Russia

Moscow, Nov 16 (UNI) A day after dissolving, three minor Russian liberal parties voted today to form a new pro-Kremlin rightwing party, named Pravoye Delo (Right Cause).

The new party is based on the former Union of Right Forces (SPS), along with the Democratic Party and Civil Force parties.

As many as 279 delegates from 79 Russian regions voted unanimously to form the party at the founding Congress today.

The organisers of the new party said in a statement that its principles were ''democracy, the free market, the rule of law and the equality of all before the law.'' The party's three co-chairmen would be Mr Boris Titov, Mr Georgy Bovt and Mr Leonid Gozman, former senior members of Civil Force, the Democratic Party and the SPS, respectively.

The party is expected to take part in the March 2009 regional elections.

Meanwhile, the former leader of the Union of Right Forces (SPS) Nikita Belykh told Interfax news agency the Right Cause party, formed by SPS, the Civil Force party and the Democratic Party, has a future, but its role will be ''somewhat decorative.'' ''It has a future in a governable democracy. Its role will be somewhat decorative, but it will probably manage to defend the liberal-democratic values and get through to regional legislatures,'' Mr Belykh said.

The Right Cause would hardly be an opposition party, he added.

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